More than 50,000 Hispanics Killed With Guns in U.S. Since 1999, Study Finds

Washington, DC — More than 50,000 Hispanics were killed with guns in the United States from 1999 through 2014, with an average of more than 3,100 gun deaths per year, according to a new study by the Violence Policy Center (VPC).

The study found that of the 50,456 Hispanics killed with guns from 1999 through 2014, two thirds of the gun deaths were homicides (33,532, or 66 percent), while 14,431 were suicides (29 percent). An additional 944 gun deaths were unintentional (two percent) and 1,549 (three percent) died of undetermined intent or legal intervention.

The study finds that the overall homicide victimization rate for Hispanics is nearly double the homicide victimization rate for whites. Two thirds of Hispanic homicide victims die by gunfire. For Hispanics ages 15 to 24, homicide ranked as the second leading cause of death. Hispanics were also more likely to be killed by strangers.

The study also recommends that government agencies improve the way they collect and report data on Hispanic victims of gun violence and other lethal violence. Because of major limitations in the way public agencies collect information on Hispanic ethnicity, the total number of Hispanic victims of lethal violence is almost certainly even higher than what the study reports.

“The lethal toll of gun violence on Hispanics, especially young Hispanics, is clear. Yet because of vast gaps in the way data is collected, our ability to fully understand this ongoing crisis and effectively address it is limited,” states VPC Executive Director Josh Sugarmann. “Community leaders and policymakers working to reduce violence in their communities need not only our strong and continued support, but the best information possible.”

KEY FINDINGS OF THE STUDY INCLUDE:

■ The homicide rate for Hispanics in the United States is nearly twice as high as the homicide rate for whites. The Hispanic homicide victimization rate in 2014 was 4.69 per 100,000. In comparison, the homicide victimization rate for whites was 2.41 per 100,000.

■ Homicide is the second leading cause of death for Hispanics ages 15 to 24. For whites in that age group, homicide is the fourth-leading cause of death, and for blacks it is the leading cause of death.

■ Suicide is the third leading cause of death for Hispanics ages 15 to 24. For whites in that age group, suicide is the second-leading cause of death, and for blacks it is the third-leading cause of death.

■ In 2014, the most recent year for which data is available, 3,010 Hispanics were killed with guns. That year, 1,732 Hispanics died in gun homicides, 1,114 died in gun suicides, 48 died in unintentional shootings, and 116 died of undetermined intent or legal intervention.

■ Of the 1,732 Hispanic homicide victims in 2014, 1,488 (86 percent) were male and 244 (14 percent) were female.

■ Guns are used in more than two thirds of the homicides where the victims are Hispanic. Sixty-nine percent of Hispanic gun homicide victims were killed with a handgun.

■ Hispanic victims are more likely to be killed by a stranger than the national average. The latest FBI Supplementary Homicide Report data from 2013 shows that when the victim-to-offender relationship could be identified, 35 percent of Hispanic homicide victims were killed by a stranger. Nationwide, 25 percent of all homicide victims were killed by strangers.

■ A large percentage of Hispanic homicide victims are young. The most recent available data shows 38 percent of Hispanic victims in 2013 were age 24 and younger. In comparison, 38 percent of black homicide victims and 21 percent of white homicide victims were age 24 and younger that year.

■ Because of limitations in the way data is collected, the total number of Hispanic victims is almost certainly higher than the reported numbers suggest. Government agencies often report data on race but not on ethnic origin. Fully documenting and understanding the victimization of Hispanics in the United States is the crucial first step toward preventing such deaths.

The study recommends government agencies that collect data on death and injury should obtain complete information on the ethnic origin of individuals in addition to their race, in order to ensure complete and accurate data collection on Hispanic victims of lethal violence.

The homicide victimization rate for Hispanics is calculated by dividing the total number of homicides with Hispanic victims by the total Hispanic population and multiplying the result by 100,000. The study does not include Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories.

The Violence Policy Center is a national tax-exempt educational organization working for a safer America through research, investigation, analysis, and advocacy. The VPC provides information to policymakers, journalists, organizations, advocates, and the general public. Click here to learn more.